4 Armed Citizens, 4 Happy Endings

As editor of America's 1st Freedom magazine and A1F Daily, I spend an hour or more each morning reviewing Second Amendment-related news. One of the things I specifically look for each day is reports of armed citizens saving themselves and others, as we typically include one such example every morning in our “First Things First” section.

Instead of having to frantically search for an “Armed Citizen” story each morning, however, I usually have several to choose from. Truth is, armed citizens save lives day after day, week after week, and month after month. That’s why I get so angry when I see anti-gun advocates making the bold—and patently false—claim that good guys with guns don’t stop bad guys with guns.

My search this morning led me to share a handful of these self-defense episodes with our readers. While there are doubtless many, many instances of armed citizens saving lives over the past few days, four stood out because of their different locations and vastly different circumstances, yet very similar endings.

My search this morning led me to share a handful of these self-defense episodes with our readers.Consider:

On Monday, an off-duty police officer in Charleston, S.C., shot and killed a dog that was attacking a 7-year-old neighbor.

According to a report at postandcourier.com, the off-duty officer was inside his home when he heard loud screams. When he went to investigate, he saw that a pit bull had the boy down on his back and was mauling him.

The police report of the incident stated that the man said he yelled at the dog several times to try to stop the attack, but the mauling continued. After checking that other children were safely out of the way, the neighbor fired five shots. The dog died at the scene.

Police said the victim suffered bite marks, bruises, and scratches to his side and rib cage, and was transported to an area hospital.

The next day, halfway across the country in Houston, Texas, a family saw all their lives saved by an uncle who lived next door and who had a firearm at hand when he needed it.

According to a report at kvue.com, four masked men broke into a home at about 4 a.m., tied up the residents and began pistol-whipping them. They also took all the family’s money and jewelry. “They had my little sister at gunpoint, so we couldn’t do anything,” one of the victims told the news station.

Luckily for them, an uncle who lived next door heard the commotion. He grabbed a gun and confronted one suspect, who was beating a family member in the backyard. The uncle shot and wounded that suspect, forcing the others to flee. When one of them turned toward the uncle with a pistol, the uncle shot him too.

Family members were shaken but not severely injured.

Later the same day, in Chicago, a concealed-carry permit holder stopped an armed man who tried to rob him.On Wednesday in St. Louis, a man who was licensed to carry a concealed firearm was able to protect himself from an armed robber.

According to kmov.com, an armed man approached the victim as he pumped gas at a north side gas station and attempted to rob him. The carry permit holder drew his own gun and shot the armed robber, who fled with another suspect in a waiting car.

The concealed carrier is being credited with stopping a crime spree, as the escape vehicle was stolen in a carjacking the night before and the suspects were wanted following an earlier casino robbery.

Later the same day, in Chicago, a concealed-carry permit holder stopped an armed man who tried to rob him.

According to a report at chicagotribune.com, the victim was standing outside his vehicle when two men approached and demanded his car keys. Instead of handing over his keys, the man drew his concealed handgun and shot one of the robbers.

The other robbery suspect was caught a short time later. The victim who protected himself with a firearm won’t face any charges.

If there’s a lesson to be learned from these unrelated but similar incidents, it is this: Armed citizens save lives, and it’s not a rare occurrence. Never let those who would diminish your right to keep and bear arms convince you otherwise.

Mark Chesnut has been the editor of America’s 1st Freedom magazine for nearly 17 years and is an avid hunter, shooter and political observer.